For those enjoying their Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, a reliable pair of Bluetooth earphones, like AirPods or AirPods Pro, is a must-have accessory. Currently, the sound experience may leave something to be desired, but the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 promises to change that game. With anticipated support for Bluetooth 5.2, players can look forward to improved connectivity and audio quality when using Bluetooth headphones.
“The original Switch operated on Bluetooth v4.1. As you pointed out, using Bluetooth audio while docked often led to frustrating audio glitches due to bandwidth saturation. Controllers also connect via Bluetooth while docked, which compounds the issue. Although v4.0 introduced Low Energy (LE) design, drastically reducing power consumption, it did come with limitations in maximum bandwidth. Still, it marked a significant upgrade over preceding versions.”
“With the Switch 2, it seems we’re stepping up to v5.2 based on FCC filings—an impressive leap from v4.1. Factoring in the incremental improvements from versions 4.2 to 5.1, we gain enhanced efficiency, increased bandwidth, larger packet sizes, improved range, and overall performance boosts. Notably, the v5.2 upgrade focuses on refining the audio experience, particularly with LE Audio. This not only enhances audio quality while reducing latency (count me as a fan), but also ensures greater power efficiency and less bandwidth usage compared to the existing SBC codec, thanks to the innovative LC3 codec. Unlike competing wireless technologies such as Qualcomm’s aptX, LE Audio comes without licensing fees—a plus for Nintendo, akin to its AV1 video encoding and decoding support.”
In short, the Bluetooth audio experience on the Switch 2 is set to be leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor. However, it's vital to ensure your Bluetooth device can support this new technology; a device limited to v4.2 won't be able to take full advantage of the benefits offered by v5.2.”